Changing Limited Slip Differential oil

[clivvy]

chaps.

I went about changing my LSD oil today. Bought some comma oil from Wilco, and went to investigate the LSD. NOw, as far as I can tell, I have a drain plug at the bottom, and a filler plug facing the rear of the car....

firstly, what tool do I need to remove these plugs? I tried my 1/2 inch wrench, and it doesnt quite fit properly and I dont want to force it for fear of rounding off the plug.

Secondly, with the plug FACING the rear of the car, i.e. not on top of the diff, how the heck do I fill it, or is this rear diff a different capacity or something?? OR, is it that the LSD oil is thick and gloopy so should just cram in there?

:bow

 

[micktheshed]

chaps.

I went about changing my LSD oil today. Bought some comma oil from Wilco, and went to investigate the LSD. NOw, as far as I can tell, I have a drain plug at the bottom, and a filler plug facing the rear of the car....

firstly, what tool do I need to remove these plugs? I tried my 1/2 inch wrench, and it doesnt quite fit properly and I dont want to force it for fear of rounding off the plug.

Secondly, with the plug FACING the rear of the car, i.e. not on top of the diff, how the heck do I fill it, or is this rear diff a different capacity or something?? OR, is it that the LSD oil is thick and gloopy so should just cram in there?

:bow

My wrench was a loose fit but freed off the plugs with a lot of brute force after applying Plus Gas & several taps with a hammer (what a relief LOL). Loosen the level (rearward facing) plug first in case you can't budge the drain plug! Best drained hot then refill slowly to allow the oil to settle, on level ground, until oil flows from the drain plug.
If you have tapered thread plugs, like mine, don't be tempted to do them up too tight: they seal under quite low torque.
Be certain that you have specific "LSD" oil.

 

[clivvy]

cheers Mick, ill try again, I just didnt want to round off the plug as it was starting to due to it not being an exact fit

 

[96terrano]

what oil did you use?

 

[clivvy]

im going to use LSD oil...

 

[96terrano]

im going to use LSD oil...

yeah, i mean what spec

 

[clivvy]

oh right, Comma LS 80/90

 

[96terrano]

oh right, Comma LS 80/90

cheers:bow, i think i'll do that sometime:thumb2

 

[rustic]

cheers Mick, ill try again, I just didnt want to round off the plug as it was starting to due to it not being an exact fit

On the threads I use a non setting compond, "calortite" used for gas fittings, but similar to hematite.
Always seals, the plug never corrodes as water can't get in. Never leaks.
Use minimum force, and comes out a treat next time.

I also use it on the sump plug.

Been doing it for 17+ years on my mav, so must be good.

 

[clivvy]

On the threads I use a non setting compond, "calortite" used for gas fittings, but similar to hematite.
Always seals, the plug never corrodes as water can't get in. Never leaks.
Use minimum force, and comes out a treat next time.

I also use it on the sump plug.

Been doing it for 17+ years on my mav, so must be good.

ok, ill try do that. What tool do you use, to undo the plug?? my 1/2 inch wrench doesnt quite fit tight, or "in" the plug much..im scared of rounding off the plug by trying too hard...

 

[Kishada]

1/2" ratchet head is what I used too.
If you are concerned about rounding it then I've found that using an airgun works a treat as it shocks as it unwinds.
I have stripped a gearbox fill plug on one of my old cars before and it was a world of hurt, so maybe ask your local garage if they can put it on a 4 poster ramp for a couple of minutes and crack the plug free with an airgun.
If garages look busy then this will be there last priority, so if you do go down this route, then when you approach them just ask if there would be a good time to come in to have that kind of thing done and offer them a box of beers to split between them.
That would aggrivate us the least and motivate us the most at my work to do that task :lol

 

[clivvy]

1/2" ratchet head is what I used too.
If you are concerned about rounding it then I've found that using an airgun works a treat as it shocks as it unwinds.
I have stripped a gearbox fill plug on one of my old cars before and it was a world of hurt, so maybe ask your local garage if they can put it on a 4 poster ramp for a couple of minutes and crack the plug free with an airgun.
If garages look busy then this will be there last priority, so if you do go down this route, then when you approach them just ask if there would be a good time to come in to have that kind of thing done and offer them a box of beers to split between them.
That would aggrivate us the least and motivate us the most at my work to do that task :lol

ohhhhh good bloomin point!! I have an air impact wrench, and an electric impact wrnech, will those do ok? not sure why i didnt think of that before...

 

[96terrano]

1/2" ratchet head does the transfer and gear box too:thumb2

 

[clivvy]

hey chaps.

finally got round to doing this job today. as sugegsted, I used my Air Gun and it worked a bloomin treat.

Anyway, emptied the oil, seems to be about 2.5 litres, maybe a bit less. what came out was a mixture of thick grey and lighter, so didnt seem too bad.

I refilled with 3 litres, but, how much should i be putting in? I thought I had read that you fill it, untill it over flows??

 

[solarman216]

you fill til the level is at the bottom of the filler hole, the grey colour of your oil suggests water, is the breather pipe connected? they sometimes get broke of or rust away right on top of the diff, Rick

 

[clivvy]

yes, the breather pipe is connected, but ill check again to make sure its intact. Im not 100% sure its filled to the level, i THINK it is because obviously as i got to the end of the third bottle, the tube from the bottle was covered...

 

[96terrano]

i dont know if you do much off roading, but you should replace the breathers as i did reason is they can rot and let water in, i routed mine into the body work but that because i do a lot of offroadingf:doh

 

[clivvy]

i think its already been done, but ill double check tomorrow, meant to check today but i had plans...

 

[96terrano]

i think its already been done, but ill double check tomorrow, meant to check today but i had plans...

cool:thumb2